The call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu has got the attention of the European Parliament as a British top lawmaker tells Muhammadu Buhari to release him.
Julie Ward, member of the European Parliament
A top British lawmaker and member of the European Parliament (MEP) has reported President Muhammadu Buhari to the European Parliament over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Julie Ward called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately release Kanu as his incarceration is a violation of his human rights since a court had granted him bail.
Making her plea before the parliament, Ward who is a Labour Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the North West of England gave details of how the security operatives in October, 2015 apprehended and detained Kanu ever since he stepped into Nigeria. She observed that in spite of court orders asking for his release, Kanu has still been detained.
She said: “Since October 2015, Nnamdi Kanu, a British-Nigerian citizen and leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra has been unlawfully imprisoned by Nigeria’s Department of State Services despite the fact that all criminal charges against him were dropped and the court order has been issued for him to be released on bail. Chapter 4 section 39 of the Nigerian constitution says that every person every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.”
She urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately release Kanu and also stop the violence again Biafra people as it constitutes a violation of their fundamental human rights.
“I therefore call upon the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to uphold his country’s constitution, to ensure Nnamdi Kanu’s immediate and safe release as well as his co-defendant, Benjamin Madubgwu and James Nwawuisi.
“The Nigerian government must guarantee the freedom of expression of all Nigerian citizens including their right to protest without intimidation and end violence towards those who identify as Biafrans.
“And I call on my colleagues here in the European Parliament to do much more to promote human rights in Nigeria.”
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